A new app that lets users of Facebook Inc (NASDAQ:FB) watch videos on TV has been launched. In a blogpost, the social network announced that the app would initially be available Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV and Apple TV. The development takes Facebook closer to offering live video opportunities for advertisers.
The same app will make it possible for users to concurrently watch videos as they scroll through their newsfeeds. Sound in the videos will fade in and out as a user scrolls through the videos unlike in the past when they played silently and users had to tap on a video in order to hear sound.
Recommended videos from friends
From the app, users of Facebook will have access to videos that have been recommended base on interest, top live videos from around the world and videos share by pages or friends that a user follows. The app will also give users the ability to save videos from their regular Facebook app for later viewing when they have access to a television set.
Other than on Facebook, the launch of the app was made on Tuesday by Dan Rose, the vice president of partnerships at Facebook during Recode’s Code Media conference.
Even before the launch of the app, it had been reported earlier in the year that Facebook was working on an app for television set top boxes. This month the chief executive officer of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg announced that the social media platform would increase the number of hires as a result of increased investments in video.
Warning shot to traditional television broadcasters, as if they haven’t had enough
Last year, the social media network became a potential threat to broadcast television by expanding Facebook Live, its live video product.
The latest move by Facebook now poses a threat to YouTube besides television broadcasters. It also fits into the strategy that Facebook has adopted in which the social media platform will be paying creators for their professional video content if it is availed to the social media platform exclusively.
On Tuesday, shares of Facebook Inc fell by 0.15 percent to close the day at $133.85.
